SWA preboarding show!

[Trackerbee]

Just got back from Orlando on a SWA flight. We got A boarding passes online at 12:30am and arrived 2 hours before our flight. We were sitting at the gate 1 and a half hours before our flight. By the time we boarded most of the seats were gone because of all the preboards that were allowed. Not only that one family of 6 (5 adults and one 4 year old child) had 6 large bags with them and all their "personal items". None of the people in the B groups sat together, and anyone that had carryons got them taken and put in the belly of the plane (I'm sure they were carrying it to avoid that) because of all the luggage allowed on with the preboarders. Only one group in the preboarders went to the back of the plane which caused a 10 minute delay taking off. Of course they caused a delay getting off the plane also, clogging up the front while trying to depart. Even the flight attendants were getting frustrated. Not to mention that most of the preboarders, except for the handicapped people in wheelchairs, who sat and waited patiently with everyone else, just waltzed up a few minutes before they started boarding the plane. Most passengers in the A,B and C groups were not at all impressed by any of this from all the comments I heard. Flame away!!!!!

 

[minniemoms]

I know exactly how you feel. That is the one thing I really dislike about SWA. That has happened to us so many times with SWA. My DH is very Tall 6'5"and large and so he fits best in the front row, or bulk head seats, and it doesn't matter how early we get there, A or not, it always gets filled with late comers with children. With little short legs. Now I have a lot of children so I don't just dislike kids, but it is very frustrating. But our children are big now, and we didn't take them when they were small. I don't know why they continure to allow that. My only consulation is, my own niece would arrive at the airport late, because she would always get on first anyhow, well, now that it takes so long to get through security she missed a flight, so now at least she arrives early.

 

[Trackerbee]

How many adults does it take to get a 4 year old child on a plane?

 

[jgmklmhem]

How many adults does it take to get a 4 year old child on a plane?

I thought that they were going to be doing away with the everyone pre-boards witht he child thing this year. I can understand one person...but 6 nope nada no way. I was pretty sure I heard on these boards it was only gonna be allowed one adult per child. I also hate SWA and for most of my flights it seems that one of the seated bigger airlines is only 10$ more or so...making having my seat preassigned worth it.

 

[inkkognito]

As far as I am concerned, there should be no pre-board with kids on Orlando flights. This is one reason I will really miss ATA and why I have avoided Southwest up until this time. And boy, those families with one kid and a dozen or so adults get a real entitlement attitude! We were allowed to pre-board as ATA Elite members at the same time as handicapped people and families. I can't tell you how many times people with kids tried to shove in front of us in the preboard line, even when we tried to point out that we had just as much right to be there and we are IN LINE.
Barb

 

[Gary M]

I've flown SWA from IND to MCO a couple times and the pre-board line is longer than the total of A,B and C lines. On one trip there were almost no people in the B and C lines. I also noticed that almost everyone with white hair was pre-boarding (except me). Almost all of the "old" people didn't need a little extra time to get on the plane. The seniors could and did outrun and elbow with the younger group in pre-board. I try not to fly SWA because of how the cattle call seems to bring the worse out of many people. I know SWA is one of the few airlines to make a profit and they aren't going to miss my business.

 

[debden]

The past couple of times we flew Southwest there was an announcement before boarding that pre-boards with children included mom and dad and specifically went on to say NO aunts,uncles,granma,granpas,cousins,exc..exc...
I am planning on flying them again in March and hope the same 'announcement' let's people know that their 'child' does not need 10 other relatives/friends to pre-board!!
We always get to the airport early enough to get in 'A' and get into line asap so we have never had any problems with getting seats together but it's the 'fairness' to everybody else that these people who repeatedly do this need to be 'reminded' that it's not fair to the rest of us who follow the rules....
Debbie

 

[jctwizzer]

Don't tell us; tell Southwest

 

[mickey4ver]

No flaming from me either...SW has terrific fares, no doubt about it, but that is the one thing that irks me with them (and yes, I know they do not care about what I think...lol) is that whole cattle call for boarding. You know, other airlines can have or offer reduced fares, and you still are allowed to pick out your seats ahead of time, I don't understand SW's reluctance to allow it. I'm sure it has a logical explanation of why they do it this way, but unless I absolutely had to fly them because of $$$, I won't fly with them. If I can find a fare on another airways within a few dollars, I will go with the one that lets me pick out my seat when making the reservation.

In all fairness, I see nothing wrong with parents with small ones boarding first, but I think that it should be just Mom and Dad and the kids, NOT the whole extended family.

 

[seashoreCM]

Preboard can also occur on airlines with assigned seats. It is not the preboard itself but rather the way the gate agent handles it.

Do not give up your bag for gate checking without first removing all valuables and other items listed on the airline's brochure for keeping with you.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

<small>Tell me I'll save time instead of the planet and I'll park the minivan in the garage and hop the bus. Thousands of others will, too. (J.D.M., writer for phillyburbs.com)</small>

 

[CarolMN]

No flaming from me either...SW has terrific fares, no doubt about it, but that is the one thing that irks me with them (and yes, I know they do not care about what I think...lol) is that whole cattle call for boarding.

This issue is the one thing that may keep me from booking SWA out of MSP (They have a new code share arrangement with ATA and MSP is one of the airports impacted). It's especially worrisome because we would have to change planes/airlines when we get to MDW. Unless there is a significant difference in price, we'll probably continue to go NWA, Sun Country or even Delta.

You know, other airlines can have or offer reduced fares, and you still are allowed to pick out your seats ahead of time, I don't understand SW's reluctance to allow it. I'm sure it has a logical explanation of why they do it this way, but unless I absolutely had to fly them because of $$$, I won't fly with them. If I can find a fare on another airways within a few dollars, I will go with the one that lets me pick out my seat when making the reservation.

My understanding is that this boarding procedure allows them to turn their planes around faster - good for the bottom line.

In all fairness, I see nothing wrong with parents with small ones boarding first, but I think that it should be just Mom and Dad and the kids, NOT the whole extended family.

I agree with you. That said, I really don't think it makes a difference if the rest of the party traveling with them also boards at the same time. I figure that Mom & Dad will just save seats for them anyway. Don't think I'd sit in a seat that someone said was saved (even though saving was against the rules). Wouldn't want to be copped up next to people like that due to my assumption that they would be rude/resentful that I ignored their "seat saving". JMHO. YMMV.

Best wishes -

 

[chrisn]

We really like Southwest and I did take advantage of the preboard when we were eligible to but it was always just us. DH, me, DS and DD. Even when we traveled with Grandpa, Grandma and siblings, they boarded after. It is frustrating to see ma's 5 third cousins twice removed boarding with the family and I really hope SW starts puting a tight rein on this practice. I also agree with the fact that even if the preboarders extended family is not allowed to board, the seats will still be saved for them and the experience of sitting anyway would be bad if you did and I'd rather not start my vacation off on a negative note. That being said, even after DS got older and we were no longer able to preboard, we've always been able to sit together and store our carryons on the craft even if we had B's or C's. If there is ever an issue of seating, ask an attendant for assistance and you know there are still really sweet people in this world that are willing to help out if you only ask. We are flying SW one month from Tomorrow!!! and I am expecting a positive experience once more. Wish me luck!

 

[DebbieB]

They should limit the children's preboards to those with car seats that have to be installed, and then only the parents and their other children. USAir usually limits preboards to 2 and under.

 

[robinb]

As far as I am concerned, there should be no pre-board with kids on Orlando flights.

At least one parent has to pre-board with children under 5 years old. Children under 5 years old cannot fly "alone" by law. I think it's up to the agents and crew to spell out the rules (parents and children only on the pre-board) and no seat seaving.

We flew SWA to MCO in August. We pre-boarded on the way down when my DD was 4 and stood in line on the way back since she celebrated her birthday in WDW.

 

[inkkognito]

I have actually seen times when other airlines have not pre-boarded kids on Orlando flights. I think it was ATA, although this could have been back in the days when we were flying American or United. They just said, "Since most of the plane is families with kids, we are not doing preboard for children."
Actually, I have no problem with people who have car seats pre-boarding so they can take the time they need. But the 15-year-old "kids" and their entire extended families are ridiculous.
Barb

 

[Carlnne]

I have actually seen times when other airlines have not pre-boarded kids on Orlando flights. I think it was ATA, although this could have been back in the days when we were flying American or United. They just said, "Since most of the plane is families with kids, we are not doing preboard for children."
Barb

Our US Air flights usually did this also- I found that perfectly fair. I never understood that reasoning anyway. When my kids were little the less time they spent on the plane the better they behaved!

 

[jcodespoti]

Thats why I don't fly SWA


Joe in CT

 

[dudspizza]

Our US Air flights usually did this also- I found that perfectly fair. I never understood that reasoning anyway. When my kids were little the less time they spent on the plane the better they behaved!

This is why I love the front of the plane. Last on, first off, and you never sit on the plane for long before you are in the air!

I will give SWA a try if the price is right, but I would prefer an assigned seat to avoid the stress at the start and end of a flight.

Duds

 

[inkkognito]

I used to enjoy getting on the plane as late as possible, which you can do with assigned seats. No worries...just make yourself comfy somewhere (preferably far from the turmoil right at the gate) and then saunter over. But all that changed when ATA started their online check-in and we could be assured of having our favorite exit row most of the time. We only bring carry-ons, and for some strange reason they won't allow us to stow them under the seat in front of us in that row. So we got obsessive about getting on early enough to get overhead space. Before we were Elite, we ran into cases where the overhead space was almost all gone just from the 200 or so pre-boarders.
Barb

 

[robinb]

I have actually seen times when other airlines have not pre-boarded kids on Orlando flights. I think it was ATA, although this could have been back in the days when we were flying American or United. They just said, "Since most of the plane is families with kids, we are not doing pre-board for children."
Actually, I have no problem with people who have car seats pre-boarding so they can take the time they need. But the 15-year-old "kids" and their entire extended families are ridiculous.
Barb

Don't all the airlines you mentioned have assigned seating? SWA does not. The only way to guarantee that someone is seated next to a child under the age 5 is to allow the child and parent(s) to pre-board. In addition, the only children to pre-board are those under the age of 5. I personally saw one family refused pre-boarding because their kids were elementary school age.

I think that on traditional assigned seating flights at least one parent should be able to pre-board with a car seat. They can be a real pain to install correctly and they are bulky to move down the aisle. I was once denied pre-boarding when I was traveling alone with my daughter and her car seat. I told the gate agent "Fine. I'll wait my turn, but it'll be more of a pain for everybody." And it was. I took up the whole 3 seat section installing the seat while my DD and the person who was seated on the aisle (who was already there when I made it to my seats) had to stand in the aisle, blocking everyone behind me. Pre-boarding would have been much easier for everyone concerned.